L fisher



Oct. 25, 1960 E. L. FISHER 2,957,739

FIXTURE ma DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS AND THE cousmmon THEREOF WIT-I A BRACKETFOR SUPPORTING usnu ems 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 23, 1954 Oct. 25,1960 E. FISHER 2,957,739

FIXTURE FOR DRIVEIN RESTAURANTS AND THE COMBINATION THEREOF WITH ABRACKET FOR SUPPORTING MENU CARDS Filed July 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2rix'ruRu FOR DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS AND THE COMBINATION THEREOF wrrn ABRACKET FOR SUPPQRTING IVHLNU CARDS.

Elmer L. Fisher, South Euclid, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, toTeletray Electronic Systems, Inc., a corporation of Maryland Y V FiledJuly as, 1954, Ser. No. 445,405.

9 Claims. 01. 312-400 This invention relates to afixture, which isadapted'to be arranged in the parking space of drive-in restaurants pairof menu cards which bracket is so arranged relative proved fixtureincluding a container, the cover of which serves as a support for trayson which food or beverages for supporting trays, communicatinginstruments,-and a bracket for holding menu cards, and more particularlyto a fixture of this type which includes as a part of the fixture acontainer in which the communicating instru-. ments may be stored"when-the restaurant is closed.

et for supporting a pair of menucards and a fixture provided with traysupportsin which means. are provided for simultaneously illuminating themenu cards and the tray supports.

As is now well known in the art, many restaurants in which parking spaceis available cater to patrons who desire to be servedin their own cars.In such restau: rants, however, considerable difficulty'is experiencedinrendering prompt service unless. a comparatively. large numberof'waitresses are femployed andif an attempt is made to'economize byemploying a smaller number of waitresses, the patrons oftenexperience'delay in being served and Waiting for their trays to beremoved after they have finished with their lunches or meals. i In thecopending application of Fisher et 211., Ser. No. 329,396, which hasmatured into Patent 2,739,657, a system is disclosed including a fixtureor container for supporting a communicating instrument by meansofwhichthe patrons orders may be promptly given to a are served to thepatrons and for a pair of communicating instruments by means of whichorders may be transmitted to and communications and music may bereceived from f the restaurant when the restaurant is open and in whichthe container serves as a receptacle in which the instruments may bestored and locked when the restaurant is closed. According to theinvention, there is also provided in combination with the fixture abracket for holding a to the fixture that menus written or printed onthe menu may be read by patrons parked in cars on either side of thefixture and in which means supported by the bracket are provided forsimultaneously illuminating the menu cards and the tray supports atnight.

i It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide, afixture for use in drive-in restaurants by means of which empty traysand communicating instruments may be supported in combination with acontainer in taurant Theinvention also relates to the comblnat on of'abrack whlch the Instruments may be stored when the res is closed. 7

Another "object of the invention is to provide an improved fixture fordrive-in restaurants including a container, thecover of whichconstitutes an instrument and tray support and the interior of whichprovides a space in which the instruments may be stored when therestaurant is closed. 1

t A furtherobject of the invention is to provide in com bination afixture for drive-in restaurants and a bracket supported by the fixturewhich is designed to hold a pair clerk or Waitress in the restaurantwhich container or Communicating instruments, such as microphones, are

also quite valuable and it is an easy matter to sever the conductorsleading to the restaurant and steal the instrument. When microphones areutilized in drive-in restaurants which are provided with transmittingand receiving apparatus, it is also frequently desirable to providemusic with the meals or other refreshments being served and this isparticularly true in the evening when the patrons have plenty of time.Fixtures which are provided for use in such systems should therefore becapable of supporting two instruments so that after the refreshmentshave been served, an instrument may be placed in each car to receivemusic which is being transmitted from the restaurant, or in the eventthat-the patrons in the car parked on one side of the fixture are" using.one instrument to receive music transmitted from the restaurant or forgiving an order, a second instrument will be available for other patronswho park on the opposite side of the fixture to place their'order withthe restaurant.-

of menu cards and which is so arranged relative to the fixture thatthemenus on one card may be read by patrons parked on one side of thefixture and the menus on the; other card may be read by patrons parkedon the opposite. side of the fixture.

} Another object of the invention is to provide in com-- bination with afixture provided with spaced tray supports, a bracket for supporting apair of oppositely facing menu cards on which the menus are written orprinted and in which means supported by the bracket are provided forilluminating the menu cards and the tray supports at night so that themenus may be easily read and the trays on which refreshments are servedmay be deposited on the tray supports after the refreshments have beenconsumed. A still further object of the invention is toprovide animproved bracket for supporting a pair of menu cards and in which meanssupported by the bracket are provided for illuminating the menu cards sothat the menus will be visible at night.

1 Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as thespecification proceeds.

. The invention will be better understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

, Fig. l is a plan view of the improved fixture;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the fixture taken on a plane passingthrough the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrowsand showing the cover in full lines in closed position and in dottedlines in a partly open position;

. Fig. 3 1s a cross sectional view taken on a plane passing through theline 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction bracket for holding the menucards in place;

bracket forhol din'g the menu cards and the supportthereg Fig! 6 isanexploded view of an enlarged scale or for;

Fig. 7 is an It is the of the present invention to. provide an imforsupporting-the menu cards taken on a plane' passing Patented Och--25, 1960,

enlarged bottom planview-of'the brait through the line 77 of Fig. 5,looking in the direction of the arrows with the support for the bracketremoved; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of the bracket with the menucards in place, parts being shown.

broken away and parts in section.

As illustrated in the drawings, the fixture includes a tubular standard1, a container 2 provided with a cover 3' which is constructed toprovide a support for the communicating instruments and for empty trays.The tubular standard 1 is provided adjacent one end with conduit means 4through which electrical conductors extend-to the restaurant and thelower portion of the tubular standard 1 may be firmly supported in theground so that the fixture will not be easily dislodged'in the eventthat it is struck by a car. As shown, a hole is bored or otherwiseformed in the ground for the reception of the lower portion of standard1 and a tunnel is likewise formed for receiving conduit means 4 whichmay consist of a pipe welded or otherwise secured to the lower portionof standard 1 and which may be connected or joined to other pipes toprovide a conduit means for the conductors which lead to the restaurant.The hole surrounding the lower portion of standard 1 and a portion ofconduit means 4 is then filled with concrete which is built up aroundthe lower portion of the fixture above the ground and when the concretesets, a firm support is provided for the fixture.

The standard 1 serves to support the container 2 and for this purpose,the bottom wall of container 2 is provided with a central opening aroundwhich is secured a flanged collar 5 which is slidable over the standard1- and means are arranged within the container for mounting thecontainer on the standard. For this purpose, a support 6 is provided,the opposite ends of which have upwardly extending flanges 7 which arewelded or otherwise secured to the opposite side walls 8 and 9 of thecontainer as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and to provide the necessarystrength, support 6 is preferably made in the form of a channel havingdownwardly extending sides which are reinforced by angle strips 10 and11. As shown, one flange of angle strip 10 is secured to one of the sidemargins of support 6 by suitable means, such as rivets 12, and its otherflange extends downwardly and engages one side of the support 6 and in alike manner one flange of angle strip 11 is secured to the other sidemargin of the channel support 6 by suitable means, such as rivets 12a,and its other flange extends downwardly and engages the other side ofsupport 6.

While suitable means may be provided for securing the upper portion ofstandard 1 to support 6, as shown the support is provided with a centralopening 13 in alignment with the opening in standard 1 and a threadedcollar 14 is secured to the support around opening 13 by suitable means,such as bolts 15, which extend through angle strips 10 or 11, support 6,and a flange 16 provided on collar 14. The threaded collar 14 receivesthe upper portion of standard 1 which is also threaded and after theflanged collar 5 of the container is slid over the standard, thecontainer is rotated to thread the collar 14 upon standard 1. Thecontainer 2 may then be secured to standard 1 by suitable means, such asa set screw 17, which extends through the collar of flange 5 and engagesstandard 1.

The cover 3 for the container extends beyond the ends of the containerand is shaped to provide a support for the trays and for thecommunicating instruments and the container is so constructed that itprovides a firm support for the cover. For this purpose, the ends 18 and19 of the container are provided with inwardly extending side flanges 20and 21 and bottom flanges 22 and 23, respectively, as shown in Figs. 2,3 and 4 which flanges are welded or otherwise secured to the side andbottom walls.

of the. container.

container by suitable means, such as hinges 24, has a substantially flatupper surface terminating in downwardly extending side flanges 25 and 26and downwardly extending end flanges 27 and 28 and means are provided todivide the upper surface of the cover into a pair of tray supports 29and 30 and to form supports for a pair of communicating instruments 31and 32. For this purpose, a comparatively long metal strip is bent toform oppositely extending side walls 33 and 34 and a central dividing orpartition wall 35 which extends across the upper surface of the cover ina plane which is substantially midway between the ends of the cover.

The lower margin of side wall 33 engages flange 25 on one side of thecover to which it may be secured by suitable means, such as welding, andthe lower margin of side wall 34 engages flange 26 on on the oppositeside of the cover and is secured thereto in a similar manner, and toprovide a comparatively strong structure and to enable the lower portionof the partition wall to snugly engage the cover, a notch or cut-out isprovided midway between its ends and the lower margin of the partitionwall on one side of the notch is bent outwardly in one direction toprovide a flange 36 which is welded or otherwise secured to tray support29 and the lower margin of the partition wall on the opposite side ofthe notch is bent outwardly in the opposite direction to provide aflange 37 which is welded or otherwise secured to the tray support 30.To provide further strengthening means for the central and side walls,the upper margins of partition wall 35 and side walls 33 and 34 are bentdownwardly and inwardly to provide reinforcing flanges and a channelstrip 38 is secured adjacent the upper edge of the opposite side ofpartition wall 35.

As illustrated in the drawings, partition wall 35 divides the uppersurface of the cover into tray supports 29 and 30 and the side walls 33and 34 extend upwardly from the tray supports for preventing a tray slidon either of the tray supports from sliding off the opposite sidethereof. For instance, when a tray is slid on to tray support 29 fromone side of the fixture, its movement is limited by wall 33 and when atray is slid on to the tray support 30 from the opposite side of thefixture, its movement is limited by side wall 34.

Means are also provided to support communicating instruments 31 and 32,each of which is preferably provided with both receiving andtransmitting apparatus. For this purpose, each of the side walls 33 and34 adjacent the opposite ends of the central partition 35 is providedwith a notch 39 to receive a hook portion 40 of one of the communicatinginstruments. As shown, the edge of each of the notches has a downwardlyextending flange 41 to provide a firm support for the instrumentsupported therein.

Each of the communicating instruments is also provided with a signallingbutton or buzzer 42 and the conductors from the microphone 37 and thesignalling button 42 associated therewith which are comparatively longso that the microphone may be placed in a car, extend through a notch orsmall opening 43 in the upper portion of side wall 9 of container 2 toterminals on a panel 44 which panel is secured by suitable means, suchas screws 45, to support 6, and in a like manner conductors frommicrophone 32 and the signalling button 42 thereon extend through asmall notch or opening 46 in the upper portion of the other side Wall 8of the container 2 and each are connected to a pair of terminals onpanel 44. Each microphone is provided with both receiving andtransmitting apparatus so that three pairs of conductors extend fromeach instrument, each pair of which is connected to a. pair of terminalson panel 44.

, In accordance with the present invention, a bracket for supporting apair of menu cards is provided which isso arranged. relative to the traysupports that the menus assassinon one of the cards may be read bypatrons in a car parked on one side of the fixture and the menus on theother card may be read by patrons in a car parked on the other side ofthe fixture.

As illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, the brackets comprise a tubularbase portion 47, a frame 48, and a tubular supporting post 49, and meansare provided for securing the parts together and for holding within theframe a pair of oppositely facing menu cards 50 and 51 and anintermediate spacing sheet 52. For this purpose, the tubular baseportion 47 terminates in a pair of upwardly extending flanges 53 and 54having aligned apertures 55 adjacent each end and centrally thereof andto provide the desired strength a collar 56 is arranged centrally'of thetubular member which is provided with upwardly extending flanges 57 and58 having aligned apertures -9 therein which are in alignment with thecentral apertures in the flanges 53 and 54 of the tubular-shaped baseportion. The collar 56 is also provided with a bottom aperture 60 asshown in Fig. 7 which aligns with a similar shaped aperture in the baseportion 47.

The supporting post 49 is tubular and is provided with a flattened upperportion 61 having an aperture 62 therein. Post 49 is also provided withan aperture 63 arranged below aperture 62 and a pair of alignedapertures 64 arranged adjacent its lower end and frame 48, which ispreferably in the form of a channel strip to receive the upper and sidemargins of menu cards 50 and 51 and the separating card or sheet 52, isof an inverted U-shape and each of its legs is provided with a U-shapedclamp 65, the sides of which are provided with aligned apertures 66. Themenu cards and the spacing sheet are also provided with apertures 67adjacent their lower end portions as shown in Fig. 8, each of which isarranged in alignment with the apertures 66 in oneof the clamps.

In assembling the structure, the menu cards 50 and 51 and the spacingsheet or card 52 are inserted in the channel of the frame and the frameis lowered a suf-' gins of the menu cards and spacing sheet are receivedin" the space between flanges 53 and 54. The upper end of supportingpost 49 is then inserted through aperture 60 in collar 56 and thealigned central aperture in the base portion 47 to a position in whichthe aperture 62 in its upper portion is in alignment with the upperaperture 59 in the flanges of collar '56 and the aligned centralapertures in flanges 53 and 54. .It will be noted that the menu cardsand the interposed spacing strip are each provided with notches 68 toreceive the flattened portion 61 of supporting post 49 so that thelower'margin of the cards and spacing sheet opposite the notches willextend to the desired distance between flanges 53 and 54. To hold theparts firmly in place, a bolt 69 at each end of the tubular 'poition asshown in Fig. 5 is inserted through the apertures in each clamp 65, thealigned apertures in flanges 53 and 54, of the base portion arrangedopposite to apertures in each clamp and the aligned apertures 67 in themenu cards 50 and 51 and the spacing card or sheet 51 which bolts may besecuredin place by suitable means, such as nuts, not shown. In a likemanner, a bolt 70 is inserted through aligned apertures in flanges 57and 58 of collar 56, the aperture 62 in the supporting post 49, andaligned apertures in flanges 53 and 54 of the base portion.

After the parts are assembled in place, the tubular post 49 is securedto 'thefixture in such a manner that one of the menu card faces towardone side of the fixture and the other menu card faces toward theopposite side of the fixture. For this purpose, a semi-cylindricalholder 71 is provided having oppositely extending flanges 72 which arewelded or otherwise secured to the partition wall 35whicl1' holderreceives the lower portion oftubul-ar post 49 of the bracket and tomaintain the post firmly in place and to prevent rotation thereof in itsholder, the holder is provided with an aperture 73 as shown in Fig. 3which'is arnanged in alignment with an aperture 74 in partition wall 35as shown in Fig. 2 and a bolt 75 extends through aperture 73, theapertures 64 in post 49, and the aligned aperture 74 in partition wall35 as shown in Fig. 5 which bolt may be held in place by suitable means,such as a nut, not shown.

The menu cards 50 and 51 are preferably formed of a transparent resin,such as Lucite, on each of which the menus are written or printed andthe separating card or sheet 52 is formed of an opaque material, such asa darkcolored sheet of paper or a thin sheet of a dark-colored cardboard and means are provided to illuminate the menu cards so that themenus on the cards facing each side of the fixture may be easily read bypatrons in cars parked on either side of the fixture. For this purpose,each end of the tubular member 47 is provided with a cap 76 havingspaced resilient prongs 77 for maintaining the caps firmly in place onthe tubular member 47 when the caps are inserted in place and each capis provided with a bracket 78 to which is secured a socket 79 forreceiving an electric light bulb 85. The electric light bulbs areilluminated by means of a conductor 80 extending from one of theterminals on panel plate 44 through an aperture 81 in the cover and fromthence through the central opening in post 49 "and from which it emergesthrough aperture 63 in the post and extends to a terminal post 82arranged within the tubular member 47 and leading from terminal post 82extends a wire 83 leading to one of the sockets 79 and a wire 84 leadingto the other socket 79. Each of the sockets 79 are provided with bayonetslots to receive a light bulb 85 and the negative terminal from each ofthe light bulbs is grounded back to the negative terminal on the panel.It will be apparent that when the bulbs are illuminated, they illuminatethe transparent resinous cards on which the menus are written or printedso that the menus will be clearly visible at night.

From Fig. 5, it will be noted that the base portion 47 of the bracketfor supporting the menu cards extends over tray supports 29 and 30 andto enable the tray supports to be illuminated, the tubular base portionof the bracket is provided with an aperture 86 adjacent each end asshown in Fig. 7.

.It will of course be understood that conductors leading to and from thecentral restaurant for the receiving 50; and transmitting and buzzercircuits of each instrument and the circuit for the lights are alsoconnected to panel 44 which conductors may be combined in the form of acable and passed through standard 1 and conduit means 4 as shown in Fig.2.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that when a cardrives on one side of the fixture, one of the patrons may inspect themenu on one of the menu cards. He then presses the buzzer 42 whichilluminates a light or actuates a signalling device in the restaurant.The order may then be given for himself and his companions which isdelivered to the car by a waitress who collects the money for the orderand leaves and after the refreshments are consumed, the trays with theempty dishes are deposited upon tray support 29 or 30 depend ing uponwhich side of the fixture the car is parked and if the patrons are in ahurry they may then leave and the trays are collected by the waitress ather leisure. In the event the patrons desire entertainment or musicwhile enjoying their refreshments, the microphone may be placed in thecar and utilized as a receiver for music or entertainment furnished bythe restaurant and in the event the patrons desire to place anadditional order,

may be provided on each side wall 33 and 34 of the cover to receive acard on which is written or printed the number of the waitress assignedto the particular station. If no number is assigned to the waitress, herfirst or full name may be printed or written on the card.

When the restaurant is closed, the microphones may be removed from sidewalls 33 and 34, the cover may be pivoted on hinges 24 to open positionas shown in Fig. and one microphone may be placed in the container onone side of the support 6 and the other microphone may be placed in thecontainer on the opposite side of the support. The cover may then bepivoted to its closed position and locked by suitable means. As shown, alock 88 is secured to the end wall 18 of the container which has a latch89 movable into an opening in a flange 90 of an angle iron, the otherflange 91 of which is secured to the cover and when the cover is closedand the key for the lock is moved in one direction, latch 89 is movedinto the opening in flange 90 to lock the cover to the container and ismoved outwardly from the opening in flange 90 when the key is turned inthe other direction to release the cover from the container.

In opening the cover to insert the instruments in place, it is notnecessary to move the cover to a horizontal open position. Means maytherefore be provided for maintaining the cover in an inclined positionrelative to the container. For this purpose, a chain 92 may be provided,one end of which is secured to plate 6 and the other end to the innerupper wall of the cover.

What is claimed is:

l. A fixture for the parking space of drive-in restaurants comprising astandard, a container supported by said standard, a rectangularly-shapedcover for said container having a lever upper surface, means extendingacross the upper surface of said cover intermediate its ends fordividing the upper surface of the cover into first and second traysupports, a first wall secured to said cover and extending upwardlyalong one of the side margins ot the cover for a sufficient distance toborder the first tray support for limiting the movement of trays slid onto the first tray support from one side of the fixture and a second wallsecured to and extending upwardly along the opposite side of the coverfor a suiflcient distance to border the second tray support for limitingthe movement of trays slid on to the second tray support from theopposite side of said fixture, said first tray support extending fromone side of the cover to the wall bordering its opposite side and thesecond tray support extending from the other side of said cover to theWall bordering its opposite side to enable trays to be easily slid on tothe respective tray supports from opposite sides of said fixture.

2. A fixture for the parking space of drive-in restau rants comprising astandard, a container supported by said standard, a rectangular-shapedcover mounted on said container and having a smooth level upper surface,cover having a first wall secured thereto and extending across the uppersurface of the cover substantially midway of its end to provide firstand second tray supports, a second wall secured to said cover andextending upwardly along one side thereof from one end of the centralwall to a position adjacent one end of the cover and bordering one sideof the first tray support for limiting the movement of trays slid on tothe first tray support from one side of said fixture, and a third wallsecured to said cover and extending from the central wall along theopposite side of said cover to a position adjacent the opposite end ofthe cover and bordering the other side of the second tray support forlimiting the movement of trays slid on to the second tray support fromthe opposite side of the fixture, said first tray support extending fromone side to the second wall and the second tray support extending fromthe opposite side of the cover to the third wall to enable trays to beeasily 0 slid on to the tray supports from the opposite sides of saidfixture.

3. A fixture for the parking space of a drive-in restaurant comprising astandard, a container supported by said standard, a rectangularly-shapedmetal cover for said container having a lever upper surface and adownwardly extending flange on each side thereof, an elongated metalstrip, one portion of which extends across said cover at substantiallythe central portion thereof and is secured thereto to divide the uppersurface of said cover into first and second tray supports, a secondportion of said strip having its lower margin secured to the downwardlyextending flange on one side of said cover and extending substantiallyto one end thereof and providing a wall bordering one side of the firsttray support for limiting the movement of trays slid on to the firsttray support from one side of the fixture, and a third portion of saidstrip having its lower margin secured to the downwardly extending flangeon the other side of said cover and extending substantially to theopposite end of said cover for forming a second wall bordering theopposite side of the second tray support for limiting the movement oftrays slid on to the second tray support from the opposite side of saidfixture, said first tray support extending from one side of said coverto the wall bordering its opposite side and the second tray supportextending from the opposite side of the cover to the wall bordering itsopposite side to enable trays to be easily slid on to the respectivetray supports from opposite sides of said fixture.

4. A fixture for use in the parking space of a drive-in restaurantcomprising a standard, a rectangularly-shaped container having openingstherein, a panel arranged in said container provided with terminals, asupport for said panel extending across said container and having its opposite end portion secured to the side walls of the container, arectangularly-shaped cover for said container having a level uppersurface to provide a tray support, means upon said cover adjacent to oneside thereof for supporting a communicating instrument, the conductorsfrom which extend through one of the openings in the container toterminals on said panel, means upon said cover adjacent the oppositeside thereof for supporting a second communicating instrument, theconductors from which extend through the other opening in the containerto terminals on said panel, said container being of sufficient length toreceive one of said communicating instruments on one side of saidsupport and the other communicating instrument on the opposite side ofsaid support, and means associated with said cover and said containerfor locking said cover to the container when the instruments are inplace in the container.

5. A fixture for the parking space of a drive-in restaurant comprising atubular standard, a substantially rectangularly-shaped container havingsaid walls and a bottom wall provided with an opening through whichopening the upper portion of said standard extends, a support arrangedwithin said container, a panel secured to said support having terminalsfrom which conductors leading through said standard may be connected,means arranged inside of said containers for securing the container tothe standard, and for preventing rotation of said container relative tothe standard, a cover for said container, means projecting upwardly fromsubstantially the central portion of said cover for dividing the coverinto first and second tray supports, and means for locking said cover tosaid container for preventing access to said securing means.

6. A fixture for the parking space of drive-in restaurants comprising atubular standard, a substantially rectangularly-shaped container havingside Walls and a bottom wall provided with an opening through whichopening the upper portion of said standard extends, means arrangedinside of the container for securing the container to the standard andfor preventing rotation of said container relative to the standard, asupport arranged within the container, a panel secured to said supporthaving terminals to which conductors leading through said standard maybe connected, a cover for said container, means projecting upwardly fromsubstantially the central portion of said cover for dividing the coverinto first and second tray supports, means whereby a communicatinginstrument may be supported on each side of said cover, and one sidewall of said container being provided with an opening through whichconductors leading from one of said communicating instruments may bepassed into the container to said panel and the other side wall of saidcontainer being provided with an opening through which conductorsleading from the other instrument may be passed to the panel, saidcontainer being of sufiicient size to receive one of said communicatinginstruments on one side and the other communicating instrument on theopposite side of said standard, and means for locking said cover tosaidcontainer when the communicating instruments are in place.

7. A fixture for the parking space of drive-in restaurants, said fixturecomprising a standard, a container supported by said standard, a coverfor said container having oppositely disposed side and end portions andflat portions providing tray supports, a frame, a pair of menu cardshaving menus thereon arranged in said frame, a tubular member arrangedabove said cover, means for securing said frame to the tubular memberand said tubular member to said cover in a position to maintain saidframe longitudinally of said cover, and means for illuminating said menucards and the portion of the cover providing tray supports so that themenus on one of said cards and one of said tray supports are visible topatrons in an automobile parked along one side of said fixture and themenus on the other menu card and the other tray support are visible topatrons parked along the opposite side of said fixture.

8. A fixture for the parking space of a drive-in restaurant, saidfixture comprising a tubular standard, a con tainer supported by saidstandard, a support arranged in said container, a panel secured to saidsupport provided with terminals and said standard providing a passagewayfor conductors from a suitable source of electrical energy to saidpanel, a cover for said container having substantially flat portionsproviding tray supports and being provided with an opening, a tubularmember extending above the cover and having an opening which is adjacentto the opening in said cover, a pair of menu cards, a frame forsupporting said menu cards, means for securing said tubular member tosaid frame and to said cover, and means for illuminating said menu cardsand said tray supports, the conductors for which illuminating meansextend from said panel through the opening in said cover and tubularmember to said illuminating means.

9. A fixture for the parking space of a drive-in restaurant, saidfixture including a tubular standard, a container, a support secured tosaid container, means for connecting said standard to said container, apanel secured to said support provided with terminals and said standardproviding a passageway for conductors from a suitable source ofelectrical energy to said panel, a cover for said container providedwith fiat portions providing tray supports and an opening, a frame, menucards having menus thereon arranged in said frame, a tubular membersecured to said frame and to said cover and having an opening inalignment with the opening in said cover, means for illuminating saidmenu cards and said tray supports, the conductors for which illuminatingmeans pass through the opening in said tubular member and said cover tosaid panel, and means for securing said tubular member to said frame andto said cover in a position to maintain said frame and said tubularmember in such positions that one menu card and one of said traysupports will be visible to patrons in an automobile parked along oneside of said fixture and the menu on the other menu card and the othertray support will be visible to patrons parked along the opposite sideof said fixture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.161,333 Gooken Dec. 26, 1950 268,799 Johnston Dec. 12, 1882 916,771Paden Mar. 30, 1909 1,679,791 Silberhartz Aug. 7, 1928 2,318,122Williams May 4, 1943 2,374,119 Morgan Apr. 17, 1945 2,538,966 FlanneryJan. 23, 1951 2,549,676 Dunn et al. Apr. 17, 1951 2,566,458 Macau Sept.4, 1951 2,629,780 Byrd Feb. 24, 1953 2,634,530 Herschede Apr. 14, 19532,739,857 Fisher Mar. 27, 1956

